Chapter: 615
Occasionally, very occasionally, a memory rises to the surface.
Just around the time I had just turned twenty.
Yeah, exactly the right age for now.
It was a memory from when I barely survived in the Demon Realm.
[I told you, you’re slow to follow?]
As I exhaled sharply, that damn bastard said while looking down at me.
Damn it.
[Ugh… You should at least be able to follow…ugh… Hah… just follow, you crazy bastard.]
I couldn’t even form proper words.
That’s how drained I was.
Seeing that, Woohyuk laughed and said,
[You just died to me three times.]
Once, my neck got slit in the first exchange.
Twice, I was caught by an illusion in the third exchange.
And the last time? I just crashed into nothing, so that counts as three.
It meant I had failed at everything I tried.
[Just kill me once! Why go through three deaths? Damn it.]
[I told you to think before you fight?]
[I did, you little punk.]
[Don’t you remember the last time you yelled like that and almost got eaten?]
Hell, I remembered it all too clearly.
It was Sogeomseong and Woohyuk who rescued me from being chewed up and spat out.
[…So humiliating. Why didn’t you just kill me then?]
As I lamented, Woohyuk suddenly gave me a whack on the head.
Thud—!
Maybe he hit a little too hard; my head was spinning.
[You crazy…!]
[Life isn’t something to be tossed around so carelessly.]
I was about to snap, but Woohyuk’s serious face made me stop, scowling.
Because his eyes were unnecessarily grave.
[Keep saying this, but you really need to break the habit of tossing things aside just because they don’t taste good.]
I didn’t get it.
If the means and methods don’t work, what else is there but to throw myself into the fray at the end?
Plus.
‘My life isn’t that precious.’
Why should I cherish this life that feels so worthless?
Lives that seemed more valuable than mine were dropping like flies on this land.
It’s not like I’m living a life worthy of being cherished.
It was something I couldn’t wrap my head around.
Perhaps my feelings were showing on my face?
Woohyuk looked at me and sighed.
[You need to calm down a bit.]
[This is just how I live and die.]
I meant it sincerely, but Woohyuk’s expression soured instantly.
What the heck is this kid…?
[Look at you now. You were just about to blow up, weren’t you?]
[You’re making a ridiculous face.]
[Can’t a person have weird expressions? Does that mean I should get angry just because I feel weird?]
[If you hold it in, you might just explode and die!]
[You’re a walking time bomb, so it’s fine… Sorry. Hands down. I apologized in three seconds.]
I gritted my teeth and held it in.
I wasn’t the type to retaliate. If I lashed out wrongly, I’d just end up beaten.
[Please, no matter what happens, just endure it three times. Then you can live.]
It’s tough just to endure once, and now I have to hold it three times.
That was insane talk back then.
In fact, even after hearing those words, I found it hard to hold back.
Even until the day Woohyuk, who said those words, passed away.
As of now, I’m trying to live by what he said back then.
But doubts sometimes trail behind.
They say cherish your life. You shouldn’t throw it away so carelessly.
Those words.
[At least.]
I thought that wasn’t something Woohyuk should say.
I knew this because I’d lived a life of giving up on everything.
The eyes of Woohyuk, who urged me to live, were actually lifeless.
The one who risked their life just as much as I did was Woohyuk.
If there’s anything different.
[I just tossed my life away. That dude burned himself to save others and lived.]
My life isn’t precious.
In that case, I’ll live and die as I please.
That was me.
My life isn’t precious.
So I’ll use it to save others.
That was Woohyuk.
It seems like many things are similar.
Yet we were different in many ways.
That’s why I have questions.
Even though I lived like a worm, maybe you lived like this too.
You lived under the protection of a shaman and the world’s attention.
Why do you have such empty eyes?
Also.
‘Why do you feel a kinship with me?’
Why did you reach out to me, a dumb worm, and seek friendship?
These were things I couldn’t know because he was gone.
So, what I’ve felt while living until now is.
‘In the end, you were right.’
I was wrong.
Woohyuk was right.
Cherish your life.
Don’t recklessly throw your life away.
That’s probably not what he intended to say.
Now I understand that my life has its own value.
Although…
Thud—!
‘Even if it’s not a life that I cherish.’
Whirr—!
Shaman’s pottery.
The unique, clear, and pure energy mingles with the flow, intensifying.
The shaman’s defense isn’t indestructible.
It simply allows everything to flow away calmly.
Movement that appears relaxed yet is swift.
Bam—!
And then, weight is placed on the toe that trampled the snow.
The sword flows. That’s a fitting description.
It’s clear. And beautiful.
At least much more than the elder’s sword I encountered at the shaman’s.
Letting go of thoughts, being thoughtless, merely flowing.
Woohyuk’s sword carries the meaning of the shaman.
Slice—!
The sword tip grazed my cheek.
Blood sprays.
I felt that and laughed.
‘This crazy guy.’
Whether it’s this guy or that guy, they’ve all turned into monsters after just a few years apart.
Woohyuk has already leaped over the wall.
It was peak when I first saw it.
By the time we parted, he was at the zenith of his potential.
And now, he stood atop the vibrant flower market.
Though he hadn’t fully crossed over yet, it wouldn’t be long before he did.
‘This is absurd.’
I feel empty.
In my past life, I definitely wasn’t this fast.
It’s the same with Dangsoyeol and Yeongpung.
Somehow it feels like the growth rates of the later generations are on parallel tracks.
‘Some people seem to be barely holding on while consuming all the opportunities.’
I have no idea where he keeps finding these insights.
Whoosh—!
His footwork changed.
He took a half step back. At that moment, the sword grazed his neck.
When I looked, it was already dark, and the sword was invisible.
Due to failing, he withdrew the sword early.
Bang—! The heat rises in my eyes, and my heartbeat accelerates.
The mind’s eye has been opened.
Hwaaaaak—!
Numerous diagonal lines burst from Woohyuk’s body.
At the same time, stars spilled from the tip of his rushing sword.
The stars are traces left by the sword.
There are so many, it looks just like the night sky.
You’ve gotten stronger.
I realized it after seeing him.
But.
Fortunately, I’m still stronger.
‘Flame Wheel Technique.’
Hwaaaaak—!!
The blue flames erupting from my body quickly engulf the surroundings, swirling and consuming everything.
“…!”
Woohyuk hesitated as he saw this and put some distance between us.
It was a gaze meant to gauge the flame’s distance.
Seeing that, I changed the flow of my energy.
‘In war, there are times when you face many adversaries.’
In those moments, my abilities can be turned into an immense advantage.
If I keep spewing flames to engulf people…
‘Improvement.’
There are instances where I modify the martial arts to suit my own style.
That’s the strength I have now.
‘Flame Wheel Transformation.’
Whoosh—!
The massive ring of flames flowing through my body gradually changes shape.
Breaking it down into dozens. Splitting it into hundreds.
The torn ball of flame gradually takes on a sharper shape.
Yes, it finishes transforming into something resembling an arrowhead.
Woohyuk’s eyes widen as he sees this.
The amount of flames is vast enough to obscure his vision.
I glanced at him and lowered my fingertips.
Immediately.
Kwawa—!!!
Countless fireballs floating in the sky rain down on Woohyuk.
Kaboom kaboom kaboom—!!
A colossal explosion erupts across the snowfield.
Fire blossoms, and the energy bursts outward in every direction.
With each event, my heart begins to race.
‘Tsk…’
I’m running low on energy.
The bet that went down last time hasn’t fully recovered yet.
That’s the issue.
Crack—!
This is why Woohyuk can withstand this like that.
Zzzz—!!
With an incredible speed, his sword slashes.
Countless branches infused with strong energy block every flame.
It’s drawn and redrawn in midair.
The traces left behind take the form of a circular curtain.
Boom—!!
As if determined not to miss a single spark, he deflected all the flames with terrifying speed and precision.
‘Wow.’
Watching this, I suddenly had a premonition.
If the world genuinely becomes peaceful.
If we can prevent the bloodshed.
‘This fight for the Sword King is going to be intense.’
It seems the Sword King who will leave Namgung Jin and gain a new name will be particularly strong.
Be it Yeongpung, Seongyul, or Woohyuk—it seems anyone would be worth watching.
While thinking this.
Whoosh—!
I leapt and dove toward Woohyuk.
“…!”
While blocking the flames, Woohyuk met my charging form with his gaze.
Swish—!
The speed of his sword’s swing quickened.
This intensified the curtain of defense.
Is he trying to make it hard for me to approach?
Not a bad choice.
Since he’d need to block the flame as well.
‘But.’
—There must be gaps even among those fast-moving swords.
The mind’s eye I learned from my master said so.
My eyes blazed with heat.
Amidst the chaotic flurry of sword strikes, a faint light flickered through.
That’s the spot.
In the wild banquet of blades.
Without hesitation, I reached out.
Okay then.
Kerack—!
“Cough!!”
My hand broke through the curtain and grasped Woohyuk’s neck.
I yanked him out.
Kuwaaaa—!!
The spilling flames swept across the ground.
Kwagagagagak—!!!
Only the surroundings, excluding ‘us’.
The flames pouring down for what felt like eternities came to a halt.
As the thick smoke billowed.
I hoisted Woohyuk up.
“Hey.”
“Cough….”
Woohyuk gasped for air.
His physical condition didn’t look good either.
It seemed he hadn’t suffered any fatal injuries, though. But he clearly took some hits from not being able to block all of the flames.
“Are you in pain?”
I asked calmly, and Woohyuk replied in a raspy voice.
“…Huff…huff… It hurts a lot…”
“You just died at least three times in that fight.”
Even as I mentioned it, it felt funny.
Because I remembered it was something Woohyuk once said to me.
“…I know. I know it well.”
Woohyuk laughed upon hearing my words.
I couldn’t laugh back then.
“… As expected, you’re strong. You seem to have grown much stronger than before.”
“Hearing you say that, I’m quite guilty.”
This guy, truly a prodigy.
Every time I heard something like that from him, it was hard on my conscience that was already hanging by a thread.
Well, moving on.
“Why on earth did you do that?”
“…”
“Everything’s cool. As you live, you might find yourself rebelling. That’s just life, right?”
If something doesn’t suit me, I could just turn the country upside down.
That was all fine. But—
“You shouldn’t get in my way.”
Woohyuk took his sword and sincerely tried to fight me.
“Then you die. Got it?”
Did he think he could beat me?
No, that couldn’t be the case for Woohyuk.
So then did he think I couldn’t kill him?
“Well, that’s half right.”
Right.
I can’t kill Woohyuk.
I consider him a friend.
And he’s someone too precious to lose.
But.
‘That is a matter of course.’
That was how it was when Woohyuk was still ‘Woohyuk’ to me.
The one who tried to protect me despite my shortcomings.
Someone who held onto an unknown conviction amidst numerous adversities.
At the very least, someone who wouldn’t block my path.
That’s how I viewed Woohyuk.
But.
‘Are you truly Woohyuk now?’
Or merely that ignorant fool known as Bi-oh-gun?
Even if their existence is the same, they weren’t the same person in my eyes.
“Just tell me. Why are you doing this?”
So I asked.
Looking into Woohyuk’s eyes as I did.
“…”
This time, Woohyuk didn’t respond.
He just gazed silently at me.
‘Hmm.’
I was about to say something, but I kept my mouth shut.
Woohyuk’s eyes were wide open.
A gaze I found all too familiar.
Those eyes were so recognizable that it felt as if I had seen them somewhere before.
Where had I seen such eyes?
As I pondered for a moment, the answer soon dawned on me.
‘Ah.’
That’s right; those eyes. I wondered where I had seen them.
‘They’re like my eyes.’
The same as the ones I had opened in my previous life.
Though they seemed clearer now.
That meant.
‘Should I kill him?’
It hinted that the situation wasn’t looking good.
I barely held onto my senses, ready to give everything up.
Was that really a meaningful act?
Wasn’t it too late for Woohyuk now?
As that thought flickered across my mind.
Clenching—!
I tightened my grip.
At that moment.
[Just bear it for three times.]
“…”
That damn phrase echoed in my ear.
Tsk.
I hurled Woohyuk away.
Thud—! Roll.
“Gah…!”
Woohyuk helplessly rolled through the snow.
The ground was covered in traces; I hadn’t made my bet properly.
I watched him and said,
“Get lost. I’ll let this slide for now.”
Just as I was about to tell Woohyuk to disappear and head towards Namgungbia’s direction,
Hisssss.
A presence caught my attention, and I turned around.
There stood Woohyuk, rising once again.
I wished that would be it.
Swish—.
That guy aimed his sword at me once more.
I had to grimace at that sight.
So, he has no intention of just letting this go, huh?
“…You’re really looking for death. Stop it now.”
I spat the warning out.
“I’d rather kill you.”
Woohyuk said firmly, locking eyes with me.
“I can’t let you go there. I’d rather kill you.”
“Fine.”
Gathering my energy, I spewed out curses.
“This shit.”
I see.
Seems like there’s no other option.
Then.
“Okay then. Just die.”
Looks like there’s only one way left.
I moved my body.
Woohyuk leaped toward me simultaneously.
The sword’s tip was sharp, signaling he wouldn’t hesitate to use it.
I could feel his determination.
Watching, I swirled flames around my palm.
Flame Jade.
The blue gem gathered on my palm.
Hsss—! A significant amount of the bet leached away.
This implied that I intended to finish it all in one go.
I charged toward Woohyuk while gripping the Flame Jade tightly.
He stumbled as he forced his sword to stand and charged at me.
The tip of his sword crackled with life energy.
Perceiving this, I swung my hand and thrust the Flame Jade toward Woohyuk.
Just as our attacks were about to connect—
I noticed.
Woohyuk’s sword was coming towards me.
Zzz…
Just before it connected, it felt like he was loosening up.
Watching this, I thought.
‘Yeah.’
I wasn’t shocked.
‘I knew it.’
I had known it from the very beginning.
Seeing that, just before the flames met Woohyuk’s body.
Hyaak—!
I reeled in the energy from the Flame Jade.
“What…?”
Woohyuk looked stunned for a moment.
Thud—!
I clutched the sword and plunged it into my own body.
Thump!
A shiver-inducing sound resonated from my stomach.
“…”
The blade pierced through my skin.
Blood dripped from my skin, trickling down along the blade.
“Ah…!!”
Woohyuk opened his eyes wide, astonished at the sudden turn of events.
As he hurriedly attempted to pull his sword away,
Crack—!
I held it tight, preventing him from doing so.
“You…!”
“Three times.”
I cut off Woohyuk’s words.
“I told you to endure three times, but this time, it seems I made it to four. Good job, right?”
Woohyuk’s eyes shined with confusion and doubt, struggling to grasp my words.
Looking at him, I said,
“I’ve experienced this myself… .”
Blood continued to pour from the corner of my mouth.
But I grinned at Woohyuk instead.
“This is the sure-fire way to make you snap back to reality.”
This was from my previous life.
An experience I had personally shared with my father.
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